Certain fruits exhibit red flesh, while others have flesh of diverse colors encased within a red outer skin or peel.
In the context of this article, fruits with either of these characteristics will be categorized as red fruits. The red color of these fruits comes from the distinct phytochemicals present within them.
Phytochemicals are bioactive compounds naturally found in plants, capable of exerting beneficial effects upon the human body. These compounds are responsible for the color shades of different foods (1). Some examples of phytochemicals include carotenoids present in carrots and flavonoid polyphenols in foods like cocoa powder (2, 3).
The distinctive red hue seen in various fruits comes primarily from a group of phytochemicals called anthocyanins. However, other compounds, including betalains and carotenoids such as lycopene, can also contribute (4).
Key Point: Red fruits take their color from red-pigmented phytochemicals, such as anthocyanins, carotenoids, and betaxanthins.
Do Red Fruits Have Unique Benefits?
Firstly, every red fruit boasts its distinct nutritional composition and may offer more essential nutrients than others. In simpler terms, not all red fruits are equally nutritious, and their fiber, vitamin, and mineral content diverge based on the specific fruit.
However, focusing on their phytochemical content, anthocyanin-containing red fruits may provide unique benefits compared to fruits lacking these compounds.
For instance, systematic reviews of existing research have demonstrated that anthocyanins may potentially improve exercise recovery, promote gastrointestinal health, and reduce inflammation levels (5, 6, 7).
That said, it’s worth noting that the anthocyanin content of red fruit isn’t an exclusive trait. In this regard, anthocyanins can also be found in fruits with blue and dark purple pigments, such as blueberries and blackberries.
It is a similar scenario with betalains and carotenoids; they may have benefits, yet these compounds are not exclusive to red-pigmented fruits. For instance, carotenoids are present in yellow fruits.
Most red fruits also provide a good source of vitamin C. However, this is not a unique benefit, and the vitamin is found in fruits of a variety of colors.
Key Point: Phytochemicals found within red fruits may have specific health benefits, but they are not exclusive to red-pigmented fruits.
A List of Red Fruits
Here is a list of red fruit options alongside some basic details about them.
Blood oranges, a distinct orange variety, boast a blood-red flesh.
This deep red hue of the flesh is attributed to its elevated anthocyanin content. Among the anthocyanins found in blood oranges are cyanidins like cyanidin 3-glucoside, along with malonated anthocyanins (8, 9, 10).
Notably, blood oranges offer substantial quantities of vitamin C (11).
Key facts (per 148-gram blood orange)
Calories: 70 kcal
Carbohydrates: 15.0 g
Fiber: 2.64 g
Sugars: 12.35 g
Fat: 1.0 g
Protein: 1.0 g
Key nutrients: Vitamin C (73% DV), vitamin A (13% DV)
Dragon fruits come in various varieties, but not all of them have red flesh.
However, there exist red-fleshed dragon fruits, also known as red-fleshed pitaya (17). Additionally, it’s worth noting that all dragon fruits sport a pink-to-red skin color.
The vivid red hue of dragon fruit comes from its high levels of betalains (18).
Betalains are also present in beets, and a review from 2021 revealed their potential for significant anti-inflammatory activity (19).
Dragon fruit offers a good source of both vitamins C and K (20).
Key facts (per 180-gram cup)
Calories: 103 kcal
Carbohydrates: 27.4 g
Fiber: 5.58 g
Sugars: 17.6 g
Fat: 0.25 g
Protein: 0.65 g
Key nutrients: Vitamin C (9% DV), vitamin K (7% DV)
Guava is a tropical fruit boasting a juicy, refreshing, and sweet flavor profile.
Some guava varieties, known as “red guavas,” exhibit a hue ranging from dark pink to light red when ripe. Their red-hued flesh comes from the presence of anthocyanins and carotenoids within the fruit (21).
Among its nutritional profile, guava is one of the foremost dietary sources of vitamin C (22).
Mulberry fruit comes in several distinct shades, spanning from red to black and even white (23).
Presenting a combination of sweet and tart flavor notes, red mulberries are an enjoyable and flavorful fruit.
The red pigmentation of red mulberries owes its existence to their anthocyanin content, specifically cyanidin 3-glucoside and cyanidin 3-rutinoside (24).
Nutritionally, red mulberries provide noteworthy quantities of both vitamin C and iron (25).
Although passion fruit lacks red flesh, specific varieties of this fruit have a deep red skin tone.
While this red-hued passion fruit is less prevalent compared to the purple variety, its vibrant color comes from its combination of anthocyanins and carotenoids (26, 27).
Vitamin C is the primary micronutrient provided by passion fruit (28).
Pomegranates are visually appealing fruits characterized by a red outer skin that surrounds lots of small red edible seeds. The fruit is equal parts sweet and tart and delivers a pleasant flavor.
The seeds of the pomegranate, known as arils, boast a red hue courtesy of their significant anthocyanin content. This range of anthocyanins includes cyanidin, delphinidin, and pelargonidin (29, 30).
Pomegranate is a rich source of numerous vitamins and minerals, but it offers notable levels of vitamins B1, C, and K, along with folate and copper (31).
Key facts (per 282-gram fruit)
Calories: 234 kcal
Carbohydrates: 52.7 g
Fiber: 11.3 g
Sugars: 38.6 g
Fat: 3.3 g
Protein: 4.71 g
Key nutrients: Copper (50% DV), folate (27% DV), thiamin (16% DV), vitamin C (32% DV), vitamin K (39% DV)
Ripe rambutan exhibits a red skin covered in hair-like spikes, often tinged in green. While this tough exterior is red, rambutan has a pale white inner flesh.
The red pigment of rambutan’s skin comes from its anthocyanin content, encompassing cyanidin, delphinidin, pelargonidin, and peonidin (32).
In terms of nutritional value, rambutan offers a commendable dose of vitamin C and pantothenic acid.
Key facts (per 100-gram serving)
Calories: 75 kcal
Carbohydrates: 18.5 g
Fiber: 2.80 g
Sugars: 15.70 g
Fat: 0.40 g
Protein: 1.0 g
Key nutrients: Vitamin C (78% DV), pantothenic acid (20%)
Raspberries are one of the most renowned red fruits, offering a pleasant taste, aroma, and a wealth of nutrients.
Much like other red berries, raspberries draw their vibrant red hue from the wealth of anthocyanins they contain. The primary anthocyanins include cyanidin 3-sophoroside and cyanidin 3-glucoside (33, 34).
From a nutritional standpoint, raspberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese (35).
Key facts (per 123-gram cup)
Calories: 64 kcal
Carbohydrates: 14.6 g
Fiber: 8.0 g
Sugars: 5.44 g
Fat: 0.80 g
Protein: 1.48 g
Key nutrients: Vitamin C (36% DV), manganese (36%)
Red bananas resemble regular bananas internally, but they have a red rather than yellow peel.
Their general nutritional composition is largely the same, and the main differences lie in the pigment content of their respective skins.
In this context, the skin of red bananas is a significant source of anthocyanins, encompassing cyanidin, malvidin, peonidin, and petunidin (36).
While renowned for their potassium content, bananas offer a proportionately higher share of the recommended amounts of vitamin B6 and the mineral manganese (37).
The Red Delicious is a popular variety of apple characterized by its shiny, deep-red skin.
The distinctive color of the Red Delicious apple is attributed to its significant anthocyanin content. Among these anthocyanins, the primary pigment found in Red Delicious apples is cyanidin 3-galactoside. The apples also house cyanidin 3-arabinoside and cyanidin 7-arabinoside (38).
In terms of their nutritional profile, Red Delicious apples present a moderate supply of both potassium and vitamin K (39).
Watermelon is a refreshing variety of melon with a thick green exterior concealing its inner red flesh. Impressively, it boasts a high water content of approximately 91% (43).
The carotenoid pigment lycopene is behind the distinctive red flesh of watermelon (44).
Notably, lycopene has antioxidant properties, and it is believed to hold potential health benefits. On this note, systematic reviews exploring the evidence on lycopene suggest that it may have a protective effect against metabolic syndrome and potentially moderate fasting blood glucose (45, 46).
Nutritionally, watermelon presents a noteworthy supply of both vitamin C and potassium (47).
Lastly, here are some answers to common questions people may have about red fruits.
Are red fruits high in vitamin C?
Red fruits are not always “high” in vitamin C, but they usually provide at least a moderate amount of the vitamin. Among the various red fruit varieties, blood oranges, guava, mulberries, and strawberries have the highest vitamin C content.
Are red fruits good for weight loss?
The cornerstone of weight management is the overall dietary pattern. Fruit can provide fiber and be relatively satiating. In this sense, substituting a typical “cookie” or “cake” snack with a piece of fruit could contribute to weight loss efforts. However, the overall diet is what matters most.
Do red fruits contain antioxidants?
Yes, red fruits encompass several nutrients and pigments that exert antioxidant activity. These include anthocyanins, lycopene, and vitamin C.
Are there any low-sugar red fruits?
Red fruits with the least sugar (and lower overall carbohydrate content) tend to be berries. These lower-sugar options include boysenberries, cranberries, mulberries, raspberries, and strawberries.
Michael works as a nutritionist in a community setting and holds a Master's Degree in Clinical Nutrition. He believes in providing reliable and objective nutritional information to allow informed decisions.
